New Beginnings

It has been so long since my last post (again). You would think I'd remember that I have an online journal thing but nope! I've started on a new adventure (well, a couple), but before I get to that let me update you on what has happened since my post in 2010! WOW...2 years?! Ok.

First off, my kids are all grown up...well, somewhat! Esmeralda will be going to the FOURTH grade!! I KNOW!! I'm shocked just writing it down! Diego, my little man, will be in FIRST...another shock!!

And the BIGGEST news...

we had ourselves another baby! How 'bout that?! Lianna Sofia:

I couldn't believe it myself. But our family feels complete now...well, for now ha! Ok. So, Esmeralda is 9, Diego is 6, and Lianna is 5 months old. That's a pretty decent update on the kiddos.

Now, an update on life:
After Lianna was born, I got PPD really bad. So bad they wanted to admit me to the hospital and I lost a friend along the way. I was told journaling was therapeutic so that's what I'm doing now ;-). To make matters worse, March 2nd rolled around. Now, you may or may not know what March 2nd means to us in these small towns of Southern Indiana, so I will spell it out for you:

In the days leading up to March 2nd, 2012, local weather and news stations were warning people that a strong storm system was due to hit the area that day. As usual, we went about our business like it would miss us. As the day drew closer, I started to worry because of all the media attention the impending storm was getting. That morning, Friday March 2, 2012, I was well aware of the storm that was heading our way. I woke up at 6:am like any normal day, got the kids ready, watched the news (the latest on the storm), then sent them off to school. I woke Lianna, got her ready and went to visit a friend (went to visit her basement actually!). We were getting constant storm updates on our phones so we could be prepared for whatever rolled our way. We found out that Storm Chasers and Jim Cantore were in the area so we pretty much knew then how serious the situation really was. I had an uneasy feeling so I called my kids' school, Henryville Elementary School, in Henryville, Indiana. Several schools in the area were letting kids out early and I just wanted to check if we were too. Turned out we weren't but I decided to go get them anyway. It was noon and half of Esmeralda's classmates had already been picked up.

We had lunch then went back to my dear friend Renee's house (beautiful house by the way)! It started getting ugly outside so we all went to the basement. We played with the kids, letting them run around, all the while keeping an eye on the sky. Around 3pm, the sky turned green. I know this green as I had seen it when I was a kid. It's an eerie green that you never forget. It's the green the sky turns when there is a tornado in the area. When I saw this I told Renee that we should all go to the back room of her basement. We were still getting updates on our phones via facebook and weather alerts. Then it hit...a massive EF4 tornado ripped through Henryville destroying the school only minutes after the buses had left. I found out later that they had let students out 15 minutes early and the kids on the bus Esmeralda and Diego usually ride actually SAW the tornado! How absolutely terrifying!! While we were in the basement, Renee told me that the school had been hit and I just about lost it! I couldn't breathe, but I couldn't cry. It was such an intense feeling of fear, sorrow, pain, worry, and despair all rolled into one. At that point, we still didn't know if kids were there or not. Turned out there were a few along with teachers and staff members and amazingly, no one was hurt.

Front of the Henryville Jr Sr High School Building

Henryville High School Gym

Front of the Henryville School Building

Now ANY time there is some sort of warning, we take it very seriously. I may overreact to these situations according to some people but this hit home for me.

The kids missed two weeks of school because they didn't have anywhere to go. They were finally sent to Graceland Baptist Church in New Albany. We will forever be grateful!! They finished out the school year with NO make-up days! Thank you DoE!! Now we're on summer break and hoping we can start our school year at our "home": HES!

Ok...the heavy updates are out of the way. Ozzie and I are fabulous (as a couple that is). I guess 8 years of struggles have paid off! Anyway, everything is great...no really, it is! I've also made a new(ish) friend. I say new(ISH) because I've known her for about a year just never really talked to her till after the tornado ordeal.

yeah, she's awesome lol.









Oh, back to my adventures of sorts. I've found some great hairstyles, courtesy of this website and this one, and I've been trying them out on Esmeralda lately. Once I started doing her hair for school in the mornings not once did she have a duplicate style. I've made up my own along the way as well. So, my blogs will fall into several categories: hair/hairstyles, make-up, CUPCAKES, home cleaning/organization.

Now, are you wondering why "cupcakes" is in caps?

Not only do I absolutely LOVE cupcakes...I mean come ON what's not to love? You CAN have your cupcake and eat it too! haha, I am also venturing out into the entrepreneurial world! That's right: Ozzie has finally talked me into turning my hobby into a money-maker. So we're currently in the process of starting up a cupcake business from home: DOLCE Sensations.

Dolce means sweet/dessert in Italian and the letters each represent one of us:
Diego Ozzie Lianna Cristina Esmeralda

How sweet is that!!?

Wish me/us luck!!

Lost in Time

To Whom it may concern:

I would like to apologize for forgetting of your existence. The time we shared was delightful and I do miss it terribly. My mind had toyed with the idea of returning to you, but the rest of me was far too busy. Now my old routine seems to be my current routine and I find that I have the time to do what I love....write! So, if you'll forgive me dear blog, I would like to write today.

I can't believe how much has changed since April 2009. One near divorce, 2 kids who don't seem to understand that I want them to stay small forever, and the severe depression that I fought my way out of! Good grief, I could write a book about all the things I've gone through in my 26 years of life! I've actually considered it. We'll see how that goes.

The near divorce was a terrible ordeal. I had finally come to terms with the fact that my marriage would soon be but a memory. We had gone through so much pain and I thought that things would be better if I just ended it there to avoid future pain. I loved the idea of finally being happy and starting a new life. I'm not going to lie, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt like I could breathe again. Diego and Esmeralda knew nothing of it. The plan was to take one last family vacation to California then to Texas. Ozzie would be coming home alone. On the drive to Cali we talked about what was going to happen: custody, finances, work, school, etc. I could not only see the fear, sadness, and pain in his eyes, I could actually FEEL it. I could feel what he felt: the disappointment of not having tried harder. I clenched my jaw as I saw the tears in his eyes. Esmeralda unknowingly changed the topic for us and we did not speak of it again.

California was amazing! We spent as much time on the beach as we possibly could. I must say, I fell in love with the place. I watched as Ozzie held Esmeralda's hand and waited for the waves to wrap around their feet. She held onto him for dear life. I saw the way he played with Diego in the sand. But this time it was different. I could feel the love in his heart; I could see it in his eyes. I'll admit, the guilt of tearing them away from their dad was killing me.

One night, we went out on the town with Ozzie's cousins and their wives. It was one of the few times he had ever gone out with me like that. We had an amazing night. On our way out of one club I remember him turning to me and saying, "I would really like to do this with you more often." All I could do was smile. As the days passed, we spent more time together as a family, driving around, seeing new places, meeting his old friends. I saw a whole different side of this man. He was fun, loving, and carefree. I fell in love all over again. What can I say? He's always had my heart.

Our week in Cali was extended by a few days then we we drove to Texas to see my family. During our stay, I finally went to see my dad after almost 3 years of not even speaking to him. It was his birthday. Great timing! Two days later we left to bring Ozzie back home. We made amends on that small trip. I finally stopped listening to my mind and let my heart decide. The kids and I drove back to Texas within a week. When we were finally back at my mom's house, things turned from bad to worse. We fought more than ever. I tried to get her to see how her actions affected everyone around her and that her words were tearing our family apart. I failed! The kids and I stayed at my sister's house for a couple of days. That was fun. I'm really glad we're getting along now! My sister-in-law had her baby and a couple of days later, we came home.

So, here I am, two new dogs, separate Las Vegas vacations, and a whole school year later. I can't tell you that I'm happier than I've ever been, but I'm working on it. I'm taking a small break from school to be the 100% stay-at-home mom I used to be (think June Cleaver). It works for us. Some days I wonder why I'm even going back to school. I love my kids and husband. I could do what I do every day. But that's also the problem. I DO do this every day and find myself wondering why women complain about being a stay-at-home mom. It's the easiest job I can imagine! My house is clean, kids are fed (and usually clean), husband is happy. I don't leave the house unless we need groceries or I need gym or adult time. If it wasn't so hot out, I would gladly take Esmeralda and Diego to the zoo. I know what it's like during the summer...it's, well, a zoo. I'm talking about the people, not the animals!! So, around noon, when the house is clean, dishes are done, and kids are having quiet time, I'm bored out of my mind. I now understand why so many women like soap operas. There is nothing good on tv at that time. Maybe I'll take up baking again (at the expense of my waistline), or maybe, just maybe, I'll start on my book. Would you buy it? ^_^

Random Gibberish

So, I'm new to the whole Blogging Scene. I needed an outlet for all the gibberish swirling around in my head. My classes at IUS don't start until May 5th, which at this point, seems like an eternity away! I'm bugging my myspace and facebook friends too much with all of my random quizzes and surveys, and frankly, I'm BORED! The kids are napping right now and apparently, so is my husband Osvaldo...we'll call him Ozzie from this point on because no one can pronounce his name lol!

I went to the gym this morning. I swear, going at 9AM beats my old 9PM work outs!! Pam and I did quite a few sets of various exercises. I have roughly 3 months to get in shape (yes a circle is a shape but not one I'm liking.) Ozzie decided that we're going to LA for half of our summer vacation. The other half will be spent back home in Odessa, Texas. I'm really looking forward to that! I miss my family quite terribly. I don't have ANY family here, well, other than my kiddos, Ozzie, and my in-laws. I still can't believe we ended up in this small town in southern Indiana. No one ever escapes the black hole we call Andrews, Texas. Out of the lucky few who do manage to get away, more than half return...and I have no idea why. I would NEVER move back there. I have my moments when I feel like that's all i want: to go back to Texas, but then I wake up and realize that it's Hell on Earth LOL

I'm almost finished blogging away for the day and umm, well, I'm thinking that all of this would have made more sense if I had started from the beginning, but I picked a random day to blog and a random idea....which is basically what makes up my life...Random Ideas! I'm off to get a late lunch. Maybe I'll write some more later! hmmm....this is fun!! LOL